Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a dramatic re-election victory on Sunday, winning an unprecedented fourth presidential term, while his rival Flavio Bolsonaro refused to accept the result and vowed to seek annulment of the vote.
According to official results, Lula received 51.8 per cent of the vote against 48.2 per cent for Bolsonaro, giving the incumbent a margin of approximately 4.4 million votes.
The result marked a setback for the conservative political wave that has swept through several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru, amid support from US President Donald Trump.
Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, defied projections to secure another term in office.
Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator and the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, said he would challenge the outcome. His father is serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro Rejects Election Outcome
Sunday’s vote was overshadowed by confusion after a Supreme Court ruling extended voting by two hours in response to reports that some polling stations had already closed.
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The extension followed a request from Lula, who complained that buses had been taken out of service in several cities, preventing some citizens from reaching polling stations.
Flavio Bolsonaro also sought an extension in certain regions because of heavy rainfall but later described the decision as “unacceptable” and a “dirty trick”.
“It is impossible to recognise the results. I am going to request the annulment of these elections,” Bolsonaro said during a brief speech in Brasilia.
Since Brazil’s first direct presidential election following the end of military dictatorship in 1989, no candidate who lost the first round had gone on to win the second round, according to the report.
In his first comments after the victory, Lula said voters had been persuaded of the importance of participating in the election to protect democracy.
“People went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important for ensuring democracy in the country,” he said.
Celebrations erupted across Brazil, with fireworks and vuvuzelas heard in Rio de Janeiro. In Sao Paulo, thousands of supporters dressed in red, the colour associated with Lula’s Workers’ Party, took to the streets.
Lula’s Campaign Comeback
After losing the first round, Lula’s supporters intensified their campaign through large rallies and a renewed social media strategy, rallying behind the message “Never Again Bolsonaro”.
Voter abstention declined from 21 per cent in the first round to 19 per cent in the runoff.
Julio Canelo, a 42-year-old lawyer celebrating in Rio de Janeiro, described the result as a victory for the broader democratic movement.
“It was the result of the people mobilising, in the streets and online,” he told AFP.
The campaign also featured a heated dispute over social media platforms. Lula’s campaign accused Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, of favouring Bolsonaro through alleged “algorithmic manipulation”.
Meta denied the allegation but acknowledged that technical errors had mistakenly led to the deactivation of some advertisements placed by Lula’s campaign.
Following his victory, Lula said social media companies would need to face regulation.
The bitter campaign, marked by scandals and personal attacks, highlighted the political divisions that have shaped Brazil over the past decade.
Brazil Remains Deeply Divided
Lula begins his fourth term with nearly half the electorate having voted against him, reflecting persistent dissatisfaction and calls for political change.
Born into poverty, Lula first became president in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. He returned to office following his 2022 victory after spending more than 18 months in prison over corruption charges that were later annulled on procedural grounds.
During his third term, Lula oversaw declining inflation and unemployment and helped lift millions of people out of hunger. However, concerns over the cost of living and crime remained significant issues for voters.
Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, presented himself as a more moderate and approachable alternative to his father, attracting conservative supporters as well as voters seeking a change in leadership.
“We’re in a deep hole, things are dire. People can barely afford to eat — buying meat is out of the question,” said Tereza Cristina Ramos, a 68-year-old retiree who voted in Rio de Janeiro.
Lula will be 85 by the end of his new term in 2030, making his age another factor in the political outlook. He will also face a Congress dominated by right-wing lawmakers, posing challenges for his legislative agenda.
Lula Emphasises National Sovereignty
Lula’s campaign placed significant emphasis on Brazil’s sovereignty amid commercial and diplomatic pressure from the United States under Trump.
“This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard,” Lula said on Sunday.
Despite their ideological differences, Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, both described in the report as right-wing leaders and close Trump allies, congratulated Lula on his victory.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Lula on his “historic re-election”.
According to a statement issued by the Presidency, Zardari expressed confidence that longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Brazil would continue to strengthen, with expanded cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and multilateral forums for the mutual benefit of both countries and their people.
Lula’s victory secures another term for Brazil’s veteran left-wing leader, but Bolsonaro’s rejection of the result and the country’s deep political divisions point to continued challenges ahead.
